Constipation
What can be done to prevent the condition?
The best way for a person to prevent this condition is to:
exercise regularly
eat a healthy, high-fiber diet that includes fresh vegetables and fruits
regularly practice relaxation that also relaxes the bowel
drink plenty of water, especially in hot weather
limit foods that have little or no fiber, such as ice cream, meat, chips, and pre-packaged frozen dinners
limit caffeine, alcohol, and sodas, as they tend to dry out the stool
listen to his or her body and allow enough time to have a bowel movement
check if any drugs he or she is taking cause constipation
What are the long-term effects of the condition?
The longer the fecal residue sits in the colon, the harder the stool becomes and the more difficult it is to pass. This also means that the colon is exposed to the chemicals in these waste products for a longer time. The long-term effects of chronic constipation can include:
swelling of the bowel, sometimes with pain in the belly
colon cancer
What are the risks to others?
There are no risks to others.
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